Man Utd win in dramatic shoot out

22May08

Manchester United won the Champions League by beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw. United dominated the first 30 minutes with Ronaldo heading them ahead in the 26th minute but Frank Lampard equalised before the interval. In the next half, Chelsea were clearly a better team with Lampard and Drogba hitting the woodwork. The match remained poised at 1-1 through extra time. Drogba was sent off four minutes from the end of extra time by Slovakian referee Lubos Michel for slapping Vidic after an ugly spat developed when Chelsea felt Tevez had been unsporting in returning the ball after a break for players to be treated for cramp. Tevez and Carrick were on target for United as the shoot-out started, with Ballack and Juliano Belletti following suit for Chelsea. Ronaldo’s kick was saved by Cech. Lampard was successful from the spot and Owen Hargreaves scored under pressure before Ashley Cole’s penalty took Chelsea to the brink of victory. Nani scored to prolong the tension, but with defeat staring United in the face, Terry threw them a lifeline with his miss. Substitutes Anderson and Kalou delivered successful kicks before Giggs threw all the responsibility on Anelka as the shoot-out reached sudden death – and it proved too much for the striker, who saw his penalty palmed away by Van der Sar to crown United as kings of European football once again.